Maharashtra CM race: Why BJP backs Devendra Fadnavis as front-runner while keeping Eknath Shinde onboard
Live MintTen days after the Bharatiya Janata Party -led Mahayuti swept the assembly polls, discussions are underway between the ruling alliance partners on who will be the next chief minister of Maharashtra. Amid the delay in government formation, Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar tried to dispel rumours of a deadlock over the next chief minister being attributed to caretaker Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Appearing before the media after a gap of two days on December 1, Shinde pitched for his return to the top post in Maharashtra saying that people wanted him back as the chief minister since he worked for them in his tenure since 2022.Shinde however, reiterated that his party would support the decision taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. BJP leader Girish Mahajan met with Maharashtra's caretaker Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, on December 2. Ladki Bahin Yojana - Game Changer In June 2022 during political turmoil in Maharashtra, the BJP took a surprising decision and picked Eknath Shinde as the chief minister of Maharashtra.